Toilet exhaust system



Aug. 11,1970 WBMUNDEN 3,523,309

TOILET EXHAUST SYSTEM Filed 001:. 31. 196'? WALTER a. MUNDEN INVENTOR.

BY flaw/3 United States Patent 3,523,309 TOILET EXHAUST SYSTEM Walter B.Munden, Charlotte, N.C., assignor of thirtythree and one-third percentto Luther N. Packer, Fayetteville, N.C.

Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,363 Int. Cl. E03d 9/05 US. Cl. 4-21314 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In abstract, a preferred embodimentof this invention is an easily installable, readily adaptable airexhaust system for attachment to toilet bowls.

This invention relates to air exhaust systems and more particularly toventilators which are adapted to be readil connected to toilet bowls orthe like. 1

In the past, various devices have been devised to be used in conjunctionwith toilets to remove stale air from the surrounding area. Thesedevices have included complicated built-in mechanisms both within thebowl itself and within the associated water reservoir. Other systemshave been developed for attachment to the water closet with intakeopenings either in the seat thereof, on the side of the bowl, or on therear of the bowl. These various ventilator devices have included variousmeans for turning the units on and off as well as various manners ofattachment being developed. None of these prior art systems, however,have been readily adapted to varying sizes of toilets nor have they beenuniversally useable with toilets having varying space clearances betweenthe seat and the bowl. The prior art also has not disclosed a systemwhich is extremely simple to install and secure while at the same timeproviding a safety system for preventing water from overflow or othersources from entering the fan unit.

The present invention has been developed after much research and studyinto the above mentioned problems and is designed to be readilyinstallable on all makes and models of toilets by either skilled orunskilled personnel. It includes means to allow maximum advantage to betaken of the distance between bowl and seat while also not obstructingthe movement of the seat to a lowered or a raised position in unitswhere the distance between the seat and the bowl is small.

Applicants improved ventilation system also has the advantage ofproviding a means to prevent damage to the prime air mover such as avacuum unit or fan should water enter the system due to toilet overflowor other reasons. A means is additionally provided for preventing thesystem from inadvertently being left on for long periods of time whenthe need for the same is greatly reduced or nonexistent.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a toiletexhaust system which is readily installable by unskilled personnel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an aesthetictoilet ventilating system which is adjustable as to location of theexhaust pipe as well as being adaptable to varying toilet sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedinlet portion of an exhaust system which is adjustable both verticallyand longitudinally while being biased vertically toward its most openedposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in combinationwith a longitudinally adjustable exhaust inlet, a means for readilysecuring such inlet to the rear portions of a toilet bowl in theadjusted extending position.

3,523,309 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 Another object of the present inventionis to provide, in a toilet ventilating system, means for protecting theprime mover of such system by preventing water from entering the moverunit and also providing means for preventing inadvertent extendedoperation of such unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective meansagainst small amounts of water being splashed or otherwise allowed toenter the system.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a toilet after having the system of thepresent invention installed to operate in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the inlet and manifold portions of suchsystem;

FIG. 3 is a section taken through lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simular section to FIG. 3 except showing the inlet portionvertically compressed; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modification of the inlet portionof the present invention.

With further reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a preferredembodiment of the overall system of the present invention as installedon a toilet indicated generally at 10. This toilet is of the usual typehaving a toilet bowl 11, a throat portion 12 and a water reservoir ortank 13. A seat 14 is provided having a diameter of approximately thesame as the flush ring portion 15 of bowl 11. The upper portion of tank13 has a removable tank cover 16 placed thereover.

The exhaust system of the present invention comprises an air inletindicated generally at 17 composed of lower portion 18, upper portion19, bifurcated side portions 20 and 21 and extensible and compressibleportion 22. The extensible and compressible portion follows the generalcontours and sizes of the upper, lower and side portions. It may beformed from rubber, plastic or other flexible material by processes wellknown in the art.

The end of inlet 17 toward the opening in bowl 11 has a depending lip orshield 23 attached to upper portion 19 so that the opening into theinterior of such inlet will be protected but not restricted.

Fixedly and communicatively secured to the rear portion of extensibleand compressible portion 22 is manifold 24. This manifold incross-section has a flattened bottom portion 25.

Adapted to adjustably fit into one end of manifold 24 is closure 26. Theother end of manifold 24 is adapted to adjustably receive elbow 27. Aswill be obvious, the length of elbow 27 which inserts into manifold 24may be varied to allow telescopic adjustment to compensate for varyingwidths in the throat portion 12 of various makes and models of toilets.If it is considered aesthetically desirable to have manifold 24 asextended by elbow 27 in one direction to be extended an equal distancein the other direction, closure 26 could likewise be telescoped. In anycase, closure 26 and elbow 27 are adapted to interchangeably fit eitherend of manifold 24.

To maintain air inlet 17 in its most opened position as dictated by themaximum distance between seat 14 and flush ring 15, and to allowvariations in this distance while maintaining a maximum use of the spaceavailable, a flattened, elongated spring 28 is disposed longitudinallywithin such inlet.

A flexible tube or line 29 is fixedly secured to the downward portion ofelbow 27 as oriented in the drawings. Preferably fixedly secured to thistube is an electrically conductive wire 30. This wire is adapted tooperatively connect metal, clip hung timer switch 31 to the motor I 3(not shown). within vacuum unit 32. As will be noted in FIG. 1,additional wiring 30' is used for completing the circuit between timer31 and wire 30.

The portion 30" of the wiring is strung from the switch 31, around theside of tank 13 just under cover 16 to the rear portion of such tank,then downwardly and across the bottom of the same to a juncture withwire 30. This arrangement all but completely hides the Wiring fromswitch 31 to vacuum unit 32.

A single hole must be made through the flooring 33 upon which the toilet10 sits. At any convenient location below such floor may be mounted thebox-shaped trap 34. To the lower portion of this trap is connectedflexible tube 29. To the upper portion is'connected line 35 whichcommunicates between such trap and vacuum unit 32. A gravity closed,freely pivoted flap valve 36 is provided in the lower portion of trap 34to allow the exit of water or other liquids which might accidentally beintroduced into the exhaust system, thus preventing such liquids fromentering vacuum unit 32. Obviously in the absence of liquids within thesystem, valve 36 will remain closed due to the combined effects ofgravity and sub-atmospheric pressure within the system.

A tube or line 37 is also secured to vacuum unit 32 to vent the entiresystem either at the outer edge of the building or through the roof asis customarily done when venting plumbing systems.

As a modification to allow variations in the distance between shield 23and manifold 24 required to compensate for varying throat lengthsencountered from one toilet to another, the telescoping structure ofFIG. 5 could be substituted for the extensible and compressible portion22 of FIG. 2.

To install the exhaust system of the present invention on a toilet 10,manifold 24 would be placed at the rear of throat 12 adjacent tank 13and secured in place by an adhesive which had previously been placed onor built into flattened portion 25. Air inlet 17 is then compressed andplaced between the toilet seat 14 and flush ring 15. The extensible andcompressible portion 22 allows a single configuration inlet to be placedon an infinite number of varying throat size toilets. The air inlet isheld in proper predetermined location by an adhesive added to or builtinto the lower portion 18 of such inlet.

Once installed, inlet 17 is capable of varying in height, and thus openpassage area, as the distance between the seat and flush ring variesaccording to said seats horizontal or vertical position. By having thisadjustable capability, the air inlet of the present invention will atall times utilize to the fullest extent the useable space available.

Once the air inlet and manifold have been installed on the toilet 10,closure 26 may be telescopically placed in one end of such manifold andelbow 27 may be telescopically placed in the other end. Once the openinghas been made in flooring 33, flexible tube 29 may be connected at oneend to elbow 27 and its other end, along with associated wire 30, passedthrough such opening and connected to the lower portion of trap 34. Thistrap is secured to any convenient structure such as floor joist 38. Line35 is then connected between the upper portion of trap 34 and vacuumunit 32. This vacuum unit is secured to any convenient structure such asa joist. Exhaust tube or line 37 communicates between said unit and theexterior of the building.

Vacuum unit 32 may now be operatively attached to a power source (notshown) with the metal clip hung timer switch 31 and its associatedwiring so connected as to control the operation of such unit.

In actual use of the exhaust system of the present invention, the timer31 is activated to operate for a predetermined amount of time. Thistimer, when operating, makes the circuit to operate vacuum unit 32. Theair in the immediate area of bowl 11 is thus moved so that it enters airinlet 17 under shield 23 and passes through such inlet into manifold 24.The air then passes through elbow 27 and line 29 to trap 34. The airnext passes from trap 34 through line 35 into the systems vacuum unit32. The air is then exhausted through line 37 to the exterior (notshown) of the structure or building. Once the timer switch hasmaintained the closed circuit for the set amount of time, it opens suchcircuit to stop the operation of unit 32 and the air flow through thesystem. If it is desired to have the unit operate for a longer period oftime, timer 31 may obviously be reset.

The present invention has the advantage of providing a toilet exhaustsystem which is easily and universally installable on toilets of allsizes and shapes while at the same time making provision for the mostadvantageous use of the space available between the flush ring and seat.The present invention has the further advantage of providing an exhaustsystem which does not require complicated tools nor skilled labor toinstall. The present invention has the additional advantage of providingprotection means built into the system to prevent water damage to thesystems prime mover as well as preventing possible failure due toextended operation.

The terms upper, lower, forward, rearward and so forth have been usedherein merely for convenience of the foregoing specification and in theappended claims to describe the toilet exhaust system and its parts asoriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that theseterms are in no way limiting to the invention since the system mayobviously be disposed in a different position when placed in operation.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit andessential characteristics of the invention. The present embodimentsmight, therefore, be considered in all respect as illustrative and allchanges coming within the meaning and equivalency range are intended tobe embraced herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air exhaust system for attachment to a toilet having a bowl, aflush ring about the periphery of such bowl, a seat pivotably mounted inspace relation above said flush ring and a generally flat, throat areabetween said seat and a flush water tank, the improvement comprising: ahollow, open-ended, elongated inlet portion having means allowing saidinlet portion to be extended or contracted in both longitudinal andvertical directions, said longitudinal extension taking place along thelongitudinal axis of said inlet portion and lying juxtaposed to saidthroat area and extending into the space between said flush ring andsaid seat to a point generally adjacent the interior periphery of saidflush ring whereby one end of said inlet portion may be disposed in thearea adjacent the interior of said bowl; a vacuum producing means; andmeans for communicatively and operatively c0nnect ing the other end ofsaid inlet portion to said vacuum means whereby stale air may be drawnfrom said bowl.

2. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting saidinlet portion to the vacuum means includes an elongated, open-endedmanifold disposed laterally to the longitudinal axis of said inletportion and lying generally juxtaposed to said throat adjacent saidtank; a closure means lockingly inserted into one end of said manifold;and means for communicatively connecting a tube means from the end ofsaid manifold opposite said closure means to said vacuum means.

3. The exhaust system of claim 2 wherein both ends of said manifold aretelescopically adjustable parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidmanifold.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the inlet portion is biased verticallyto an open position whereby maximum utilization may be made of the airspace between said seat and said flush ring.

5. The exhaust system of claim 4 wherein the biasing means is a spring.

6. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein the open end of the inletportion disposed toward said bowl is generally concaved in shape inplain View.

7. The exhaust system of claim 6 including an outwardly projectingsplash shield connected to the upper portion of said concave opening.

8. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein a liquid trap is operativelyconnected between said inlet portion and said vacuum means wherebyliquid which inadvertently enters the system through said inlet will beintercepted prior to entering said vacuum means.

9. The exhaust system of claim 8 wherein the trap includes a generallyvertically disposed elongated housing; an inlet opening in the lowerportion of said housing; means for communicatively connecting said inletportion to said lower inlet opening; an outlet opening in the upperportion of said housing; means for communicatively connecting said upperopening to said vacuum means; and an outwardly pivotable flap valveoperative- 1y constructed into the lower portion of said housing wherebyair may pass from said inlet portion to said vacuum means while waterand other liquids will be expelled from the system due to their weightovercoming the gravity biased closure of said valve.

10. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein a timer switch is provided tocause the vacuum means to operate for variable, preset lengths of time.

11. The exhaust system of claim 1 wherein an attaching means is providedto secure said inlet portion of the throat area of the toilet.

12. The exhaust system of claim 11 wherein said attaching means is anadhesive.

13. The exhaust system of claim 2 including securing means forconnecting said manifold to said throat area.

14. The exhaust system of claim 13 wherein said securing means is anadhesive.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,467 11/ 1929 Sarrett 4-2131,862,085 6/1932 Hertzog 4-213 2,112,772 3/1938 Greene 4-213 2,134,62910/1938 Walsh et a1. 4-213 2,405,812 8/1946 Binder 55-83 2,507,9665/1950 Filliung 4-101 2,527,110 10/ 1950 Wheeler 4-217 2,603,794 7/ 1952Bokser 4-101 2,727,249 12/ 1955 Kochert 4-213 3,120,665 2/ 1964 Kirkland4-213 3,192,539 7/1965 Martz 4-213 3,273,170 9/1966 Wheeler 4-2093,277,499 10/ 1966 Keefauver 4-213 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary ExaminerD. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner

